UP MAGAZINE Vol 7.07 Photography Issue - Page 24

PHOTOGRAPHY profile
doing for the rest of my life”. I later on realized
I have to earn, so that’s why I started doing it
professionally. Photography to me is a means of
expression; I believe all creatives strive to express,
the only difference is the medium used. I use my
camera to express myself the same way an artist
paints or a musician pens down thoughts and
performs them.
What or who are your favourite photographic
subjects?
I love photographing people because they’re
interesting subjects, but also because I can relate
more to people than other subjects. That’s why I
strive to tell people’s stories.
BIKO
WESA
Could you define what it is that motivates you
to press the shutter at a certain moment in
time?
The urgency to tell stories. I believe I have a tool
that, if used thoughtfully, can have a positive
impact on society. Other times it’s because I just
felt like photographing because I saw something
that looked good in a frame.
Please tell us a little about what kind of
equipment you use and why?
Is there a particular kind of lens you like to use
and why? What makes it special?
I mostly use a Canon 7D with a Canon 24-70
f/2.8 L-lens when documenting. I love it because
I can create portraits as well as wide angle shots.
Furthermore it’s relatively wide aperture allows
me to photograph without the need of adding
flash in low light situations. However, I do walk
around a lot with my Canon 7D fitted with
a 24mm f/2.8 ‘pancake’ lens because it’s less
conspicuous and more portable. Documenting
people’s lives is a bit hard, especially when
www.upnairobi.com
24
August 2016
covering sensitive topics, so the subjects feel less
intimidated if less gear is used. I own off camera
flashes too but hardly use them unless I really have
to, which is 7% of the time. I use my phone too,
in this day and age of smartphones, documenting
lives has never been easier.
Do you set a series of rules that you must
follow as sort of regulation for yourself?
Yes I believe rules are important to achieve
goals, otherwise you’ll find yourself going round
and round in circles. The most important rule
surrounding my photography is the impact my
photography has on my subjects. We live in a
world where people photograph just to gain social
recognition, that’s dangerous because it goes
against all ethics.
Why did you choose to be a photographer and
what does the photography mean to you?
I chose passion, blindly, to be precise. I didn’t
think of it as a profession at first, it was more
about “I love taking pictures and that’s all I’ll be
Who are your role models and why?
I have so many people I look up to, that help me
realize meaning to my work and life. As you can
tell I live, breathe and sleep photography so almost
all my role models are from the art space. Paul
Munene is a good friend and mentor who has
taught me that the technical bit of photography
isn’t the most important but the reason behind
taking that photograph is, he reminds me to
question my motives every time I click. James
Muriuki is an artist who I look up to as well, his
approach of using photography as an expressive
tool is something I find interesting, something
I hadn’t thought about until recently. I adore
Mariella Furrer’s documentary work. It’s so
astounding, trying to achieve that standard in
my documentary work is what I strive for. How
she manages to be discreet in her photos is so
fascinating. Patrick Mukabi is an artist I have
much respect for because of his kind heart. He
mentors anyone and everyone around him. It’s
hard to find an artist ready to give his all to other
young artists around him so that’s what I hope to
attain, to be selfless and a mentor, even if it’s just
half of what he is.
How do you compare digital photography to
film photography?
Sadly I’ve never used film before; I was born in
the digital era. However I have the utmost respect
for photographers that used/use film. Most f